Principal's Report

I'm sure we'll all agree that 2020 has been a year like no other and has had an impact on all of us to varying degrees. Families were impacted in so many ways - employment, schooling, sporting and leisure activities, shopping and socialising. Individual and collective well being  have been compromised for many. Although restrictions have been modified and/or lifted and a new normal returning to our lives, the real impact for some still lingers. 

It has been wonderful to see our school community slowly coming back together and welcoming students and parents back onsite this term. Thank you to our staff, students, parents and carers and School Council for working together throughout the 2020 school year, working to our ever changing Operations Guide.

And yet there have been some terrific positives to 2020:

• Our new school oval after many years of working together to save for it
• Further developing all of our technological skills through remote learning, zoom meetings, virtual assemblies, Story Time on line etc
• The powerful owl mural
• In many cases, a strengthening of school/home partnerships
• Finding new and innovative ways of achieving milestone events such as Graduation and K-F transition
• Gratitude and appreciation for many of the things we have taken for granted

I wish you all a wonderful Christmas and New Year, and a happy and safe holiday connecting with family and friends.

GRADE 6 GRADUATION

What a great night it turned out to be and amazing that we were able to give our students and families a great night given the 2020 school year that was. I’d like to thank the teachers, students and parents for all the work went into preparing for Graduation and making it so special for our graduating students. 

Wishing you all a wonderful start to Year 7 in 2021. We will miss you!

We say farewell to the following families, thanking you for your involvement with ACPS over the years and wishing the students a positive start to their secondary school journey or their new primary school...

BILLINGE, CADOGAN-RAWLISON, CARNES, CARTWRIGHT, CHANDLER, CLANCY, CLEARY, DEMPSTER-DUNN, DUFF, FERGUSON, FLEMING-BOLAND, FORSYTH, GOODMAN, HARRISON, HERRGESELL, HODGSON, JEBB, JOHNSTON, KAY, LANGLEY, MCCGOWN, MILONAKOS, NOWAK,OLSON, PINDER, POTTER, RUSSELL, SCOTT-BOMMERT, VAN DEN BERG, VERRALL, VITIRITTI, WELANDER, WHITEHEAD WIERZBOWSKI, YOUL

DES MCKENZIE AWARD

The Des McKenzie Award is a commemoration of the contribution that former Principal Des McKenzie, made to both the Warrandyte Community and the lives of the many students who worked with him at ACPS. Des was a Principal who valued responsibility, creativity and a willingness to have a go. 

Congratulations to DANIEL HERRGESELL for being the 2020 Des McKenzie award winner. A well deserved recipient of this annual award.

Thank you to the following guests who assisted in the presentation:

Georgia Livingstone- 2019 award winner

Lyn Regan - Des' partner

Tanya - Des' daughter

James and Ryan - Des' grandsons

NATASHA RANKIN AWARD

As you are aware, Natasha was a beloved and respected mentor, colleague and friend to us all at ACPS and it is wonderful that her legacy will be captured by way of a perpetual award in her name.  Those who knew Natasha will be aware that as a dedicated teacher her students were the centre of her universe – hence recognising a young person in this way is such a befitting honour.

This year in conjunction with Dan, Natasha's husband and the family it has been decided to award two Natasha Rankin Awards. It was our pleasure to present the inaugural awards to Layne Carnes and Abi Kay.

Victorian High Ability Program Awards

Congratulations to the following students who participated in the Primary English Victorian High Ability Program: Zara Vitiritti, Ruby Tinker, Jorja Nowak and Ryder Greenstreet. The Program consisted of an intensive ten-week online course in English and it was wonderful seeing the students engaged and actively participating in all their sessions.

MiniLit Awards

Congratulations to the following Grade 1 students for completing MiniLit programs Level 1 and 2. We are so proud of you! Josephine M, Charlie SP, Robert MJ and Henry N. Well done!

FINAL STAFFING FOR 2021

Principal - Sue Dyos

Acting Assistant Principal - Jake Laurie

Office Staff

Joanne Metcalfe

De Prior

Melinda Heath

Grades

Foundation          Anna Verga, Amanda Callaway

Year 1                    Jessica O'Sullivan

Year 2                    Russell Smith, Karen Sharland/Sarah Bailey

Year 3/4                Brooke Eastwood, Sian McQualter, Linda Zanatta

Year 5/6                Paul Barnes, Maria Healey, Maja Rizzotto, Alysha Buzzini

Specialists

Physical Education         Meredith Thornton

Performing Arts               Natika Jenes

Visual Arts                         Julie Clarke

LOTE Italian                      Ginevra DeBenedetti       

Integration Aides

Angela Burmas

Michaela McCleery

Shar McKenzie

Elissa Nitschinsk

Kellie O'Dwyer

Joy Rentz

Tutor Learning Initiative - Terpsi Mi

Chaplain

Robyn  Mullholland

Names in bold  - Team Coordinators

And that's a wrap for 2020!

Sue Dyos